Claire’ View:
“So she doesn’t want to kill me?” I asked Justin happy it was working out for him.
“Nope,” He popped the P. “We talked about it and she actually wouldn’t mind coming to a rehearsal or dinner sometime, and I might bring a friend.” He sounded excited.
“That sounds great, who exactly is coming?” I smiled at his happy tone, which was the first time I’d heard that in a long time.
“Oh, it’s just a guy who really wants to meet you. It’s a surprise.” He laughed a bit.
This is a very eventful week for everyone. I'm going to audition for a reality entertainment TV show to help get my name out, and possibly win. I'm also turning 17 soon and going to start some driving so I can be even more independent. “Selena is here. I have to go. Rehearsal tonight still on?” He asked rushed.
“Yeah, see you there!” I hung up so he could do whatever he was going to with Selena.
“Claire! You home?” Jessica hollered through the house.
“Yeah, I’m up here!” I half yelled back. I quickly plugged my iPod in to charge and headed down stairs. Jessica isn’t fat but the baby inside of her has added some noticeable weight. “Wow.” I said looking right at her stomach.
“Thanks.” She said sarcastically putting some bags on the counter. “Well the ultra sound went great. Everything is healthy and I'm eating right so everything is going on track. I stopped off and got some fast food for you. I didn’t know if you would be home but I thought just in case.” She slid one bag towards me. I peered inside to see my favorite meal from McDonalds. I dug in as she got some fruit from the refrigerator. We sat at the barstools and ate quietly. “So this baby is on the way, you are doing a competition, Justin is coming home for a week, and your grandma is moving here so she can have a peace of mind?” Jessica laughed.
“Yeah, I have been trying to sort it all out myself.” I chuckled back a response.
“So what do you have going on?” She asked setting down her food indicating she wanted conversation.
“I have rehearsal with Justin Bieb’s tonight. Then a movie, after I clean up, with Alana and last but not least sleep. Tomorrow I have to go to the park with Alana because our YouTube thing is a bit bigger than we thought; I will be there all day most likely. Then, what day am I on?” I asked realizing I don’t even know what today is.
“Today is Wednesday, so you're on Friday.”
“Thank you. Friday I'll probably be doing just about nothing. I want to surprise Lou with a visit but that depends on if I really want to.” I sighed and looked at her already feeling the end of the week draining me. I don’t know how I'm going to make it through the weekend.
“Tonight I'm going over to Ralph’s place. I think I'm going to stay the night there. Tomorrow I won't be home until late because Ralph and I are going a few hours out of town to visit his family probably will stay there. Friday I'll be home late afternoon and then I'm going to need sleep because Justin’s flight comes in Sunday.”
“Are we doing anything special for that?” I asked. We are under this strange agreement where we tell each other our plans and then we don’t interfere with them. JC and I used to do it but then he got too busy with things.
“I was going to pick up some cupcakes but other than that no.” She cleaned up her mess and I cleaned up mine. The conversation pretty much died then. She went off to her bedroom and I went off to mine. I looked at my phone and saw I had some twitter messages and regular texts as well. Twitter was another place my fame was growing. People were starting to ask for follows and RTs. I would do it because I have nothing to lose and they have everything to gain from it. After I did that they would tweet more and freak out more. Some more people followed me and I just skimmed them. I saw a tweet in my mentions and read, “Follow @ClaireElizabeth she is an awesome piano player! XX” Someone verified tweeted it. I clicked on their name and scrolled their profile. He was hot. By his pictures he looked tall, was tan, and had curly hair, and gorgeous green eyes. @Harry_Styles was his name on twitter. I messaged him back saying meaningless thank yous and just being awkwardly humble about it.
There wasn’t a response so I went to my texts. In my inbox from Justin Bieber, asked if we could move rehearsal to a later time. I responded saying I didn’t care then as I waited went to my other message. Alana wanted to know if we were still on for our movie. I text her back and said rehearsal with Justin is getting pushed back so our movie is either not going to happen or going to have to be at one of our houses. She is a faster replier than Justin because he’s always busy, I mean being Justin Bieber and all. She said one of our houses was fine because she already had a backup movie ready. I sent a smiley face asking which house. She replied with yours and a winky face. By this time Justin had responded and I was able to sort out a later rehearsal time with him. Everything was going to plan.
I had two hours before I needed to be ready for rehearsal with Justin so what better thing to do than play piano. Most people would nap, it doesn’t sound bad, but I’d rather learn some new songs. I got on YouTube and looked up some techniques I’ve been struggling with and started my practicing. Jessica knew I was a pianist because of what Justin has told her so she had a couple pianos put in my room while I was rehearsing with the other Justin. Piano got boring after a while because I still couldn’t learn these couple measures of a song. It wasn’t a hard song and it wasn’t fast either. I just couldn’t get something right. I called it a day with the song and packed for rehearsal.
“I'm going to rehearsal!” I hollered to Jessica who could be or could not be home. I don’t know but I always yell because she said it's a good habit to let her or Justin know where I am.
“Ok.” Her voice vibrated from the kitchen. I walked to the studio without interruption. Recently I have had a few people ask for my signature or a picture, which is cool but disruptive. I like to get to places without much hassle, yet another reason I don’t know why I want to be famous. I opened the studio door and the front desk manager handed me an envelope with the room number and key to get in. I heard the music from down the hall as I started to creep on the rehearsal room. I opened it up and everyone stopped to look at me.
“Did I do something?” I tilted my head and dropped my bag.
“Is this her?” Someone I have never heard asked. Everybody parted and through the musicians emerged Justin with someone.
“Yeah, Selena this is Claire.” Justin smiled almost apologetic at me.
“Yeah, I know, she’s young isn’t she?” The girl in front of me scoffed.
“Justin.” I said absolutely clueless as to why I was being scoffed at.
“Claire this is Selena.” He said wrapping an arm around her.
“Oh.” I let it trail. “I'm Claire.” I extended my hand and she took it suspiciously.
“Selena, so I hear you're quite the piano player.” She said it like she was judging me. I could tell she was and everyone was watching because it was really awkward the way she looked at me and talked down to me. I looked at her for a bit before my eyes shifted to the back of the room where a familiar blonde headed boy was standing. I looked at him curiously before returning to Selenas statement.
“Yeah, I may be tiny but I can play.” I shrugged. She doesn’t know me and she doesn’t need to.
“Well let’s hear it then.” She stepped back as to symbolize giving me the ‘floor.’
“Are you guys ready?” I asked looking at all the pairs of eyes already fixated on me. I stopped at Nialls and smiled. He smiled back before turning red and looking down, I did the same.
“No, just you play.” Selena said. I have seen her perform before and it was very pop but I'll give it to her, it wasn’t terrible. I used to be a decent fan, used to.
“Selena is that really necessary?” Justin rested a hand on her shoulder.
“Why wouldn’t it be? If she is so good why doesn’t she play alone?” She said pointing to the piano. I sat down and did a couple scales to warm my fingers up from the nerves. I started doing a couple chords from her hit “Come and Get It”. She laughed and smiled recognizing it. “Not bad but it was a little off.” She criticized. I changed it up and everyone kind of chuckled. She hummed it out just to make me look bad.
“Selena, do you really want to pick this fight?” Lou asked.
“She's right.” I said softening up her hatred on me. She put in an extra point about how I played it and then looked at me with a smirk. I fixed everything she said was wrong, even if it wasn’t, and added some extra stuff myself. Once I was done I looked at her and smiled a genuine smile. Niall laughed in the back of the room along with everyone else. We went back and forth, I’d play, she’d correct. I’d play, she’d sing. She looked at me and just pointed.
“I know when I have been beat and I own up to it. You're a great player.” She hugged me and everyone clapped giving us a hand.
“So are you two good?” Justin asked looking up from his phone.
“I think she’s pretty cool.” Selena said taking water that was handed to her and opening it.
“I didn’t have a problem before.” I laughed.
“I'll sit down and let all of you rehearse.” Selena moved Justin and sat down in the chair he must have gotten when we were doing our little battle.
“Everybody pair up.” I said to the dancers ready to learn. “We are doing somebody to love.” I said and the music started on my cue. Almost everyone has the dance down, and the musicians have put a lot of work into the song and getting in sync. Some of the chords I put together were touchy and I could tell Selena wasn’t happy that I was playing back to back with Justin but it was going to be Lou when they performed live and she is going to have to get used to it. I still have to work with Lou on it because she is far behind and no one knows why. She literally just dropped her music skill from a ten to a seven and we had to keep pulling her up to speed and stopping for her. Justin noticed I wasn’t exactly focused and he started to lose focus. He bumped into me and I fell and then he tripped right over me.
“What are you doing Justin?” I asked sitting on the floor embarrassed.
“Sorry! I noticed you weren’t focused and I guess it made me lose my focus.” He apologized. Just then Niall came running over and gave me a hand. I took it kindly, looking right into his eyes. I let go of his hand and looked down, I was shy around cute strangers.
“Thank you, Niall.” I stood frozen as he helped Justin up too.
“You guys are doing great, keep going, sorry.” He backed away slowly. I couldn’t stop looking at him, he seemed so familiar. I shook my head to clear away my distracting thoughts. I turned to Justin who mouthed something at Niall and they both laughed, I ignored them and turned back to the musicians and dancers.
“Do we need to go back over that?” I asked everyone. Everyone just shook their head indicating we could move on. “Let’s do –” as I pondered his song list Lou spoke up.
“…baby!” She yelled for everyone.
“Yeah, good choice, places everyone.” I agreed. We played through that without any problems. Took a break and then started “Somebody to Love” again. We got through that with Lou keeping up and Justin getting everything spot on. Cleaning up was going great. It was getting late so we all decided to call it a night. Justin and Niall came running over afterwards last minute.
“I didn’t know if you two had officially met, Claire this is Niall, Niall this is Claire.” We looked at each other for a bit before I put my hand out, he shook it and let go quickly.
“Are you up for a late night bite? We’re going out and I thought you and Selena and Horan could get to know each other a little better.” I sighed, disappointed that I couldn’t.
“Oh, sorry guys, I already have plans with Alana for movies at my house. I would invite you, but I don’t really want to repeat what happened last time.” I laughed and noticed Nialls shoulders drop. I felt bad and smiled at him before Justin said that was fine and him and Selena and Niall walked away. I smiled at the thought of finally getting introduced to Niall, he seemed nice. Jeff and Lou left together along with the rest of the group. Everyone had someone to go home with but I was going to walk alone, again. It was cooler outside as the wind blew lightly. I pulled out my phone and texted Alana that the limo would pick her up; then I texted our driver her address. Since I told her about Justin and the music practices she has become a real friend. She doesn’t care about my upcoming fame and she doesn’t care about the fact I live with Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake. She has become a true friend. Someone I count on for small tasks, like helping me get famous.
“Watch out!” Someone yelled. I looked up in time to hit the person.
“I'm so sorry. I happen to do this a lot.”
“It's ok the sidewalks are always packed.” The green eyes looked at me. I broke the gaze he had with me and looked around to see just us.
“There’s no one else here.” I practically whispered. He then looked around and then straight into my eyes.
“I guess not.” He smiled.
“You're that guy from twitter.” The realization hit me.
“Yeah I have one.” He said not hearing exactly what I said.
“You tweeted me, well you tweeted people to follow me.” I said.
“Claire?” He asked like he knew me personally.
“Yeah you're Harry!” I said sticking out my hand.
“You're a fan?” He asked taking it and instead of just shaking it he kissed it.
“Well, no.” He frowned. “I mean I know who you are but I'm not in love with you.” That sounded creepy. “I like your music.” I finished great.
“I get it. You don’t get star struck.” He chuckled.
“Yeah but tongue tied is another thing.” I said more to myself but he definitely heard.
“Hey, how about I walk you home since it's late, dark, and you have my jacket.” He said. I gave him a weird look.
“I don’t have your jacket.” I looked at myself. As I was looking for the jacket I knew I wouldn’t find I felt warmth and looked to see Harry putting his jacket on me. That was smooth.
“Let’s go.” He said. We started walking the way to the mansion. He followed me because he sure didn’t know where I was going. “I live around here in the suburbs. It's a yellow house, it's tiny for five guys but it's cozy.” Harry kept the conversation going.
“I'm new around here. I moved in with Justin after JC died.”
“Why after JC died?” He was being a little nosey but it was nice to talk to someone on my walk home.
“He was my dad.” I looked down.
“Oh, I'm sorry.” I hate it when people say that. It's not like they killed him.
“Where were you going?” I asked changing the subject abruptly.
“I was actually just clearing my head.” He chuckled. We continued to walk without speaking. He cleared his throat getting ready to speak.
“Could I have your number?” He asked the quietest he has been all night.
“Sure, here you go.” I handed him my phone and I took his. We exchanged numbers and started to near the gate. “Well this is it.” I said.
“What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t walk you to the door?” He smiled at me.
“I guess, but I'm warning you my friend is here and she nearly killed Bieber when she saw him so just brace yourself.” I said handing him his jacket back.
“Keep it. It looks good on you.” He said holding up his hands indicating he wouldn’t take it back.
“Thanks but I don’t really need paps assuming we’re together too.” I took it off and handed it to him.
“Hey, I totally get it.” He was being really nice. We made it up the driveway and I noticed the limo was back.
“She's here so I think its best I continue on alone.” I whispered just because I didn’t want her to hear me.
“Hey it's cool. Text me whenever. I wouldn’t mind clearing my head with you again.” That was weird. I barely knew him and he was being creepily nice and wanting to hang out. Something almost compelled me to want to know him though. He was definitely a charmer.
“Is that Justin out there?” Alana yelled from the door.
“No!” I quickly yelled back. I didn’t say anything to Harry. I just gave him a look and walked fast to the door that was opening. Before Alana could poke her head out I shoved her back in and slammed it shut.
“Hey! Slow down!” She said catching her balance.
“Sorry. It was cold out there.” I said pretending to shiver.
“I brought the movie, hope you don’t mind. It just came out on DVD so I thought why not. Also the popcorn has been made.” She took my bag and threw it on the table by the stairs.
“I don’t care what we watch. I'm just glad to be home.” I smiled.
“So you smell funny. The movie can wait for you to shower.” She plugged her nose and sounded nasally.
“Hey, I work up a nice sweat when I do my thing.” I joked walking up the stairs. Gosh, I hope Harry didn’t smell me.
“I'll be down here.” Alana smiled and pointed to the direction she walked. I pulled a fast shower so I could be done faster. I ran downstairs in my regular Sophie shorts and t-shirt and flew over the back of the couch.
“Hey, watch where you land!” Alana yelled holding up a bowl of popcorn trying to save it.
“Sorry I was coming in hot.” We both laughed and as I settled down she pressed play. We were sharing a blanket because we do that sort of thing as friends. I'll be completely honest, I didn’t know a lot about how friends acted because I never had any. Having Alana is something new to me and she must know because she always lets me decide what happens. It's almost like we are in a real relationship only she has hit it off with Ryan very well, or so I'm told. Justin tells me what Ryan tells him and apparently the two have gone on some dates here and there. Alana has yet to tell me but I think she doesn’t want to because she thinks I’ll judge her.
“We’re watching This Is Us featuring the hottest British boy band of our generation!” Alana said in an announcer voice.
“Nice, I can't wait!” I tried to share her excitement.
“I think you'll like Liam he likes to mess around. They all do but he actually looks the best.” She said.
“You'll have to point him –” I stopped talking. The movie had officially started and I saw two people I didn’t expect to see, Harry Styles and the blonde hair and blue eyes, Niall
“That’s him.” She pointed to the screen when a taller buff guy was on it. He had scruff and tattoos. They all seemed to have tattoos but Niall.
“Huh, his name is umm…” I whispered struck at the fact that he was in a movie.
“Niall, he's the Irish one, the only Irish one.” Well the accent fit the profile as well. I didn’t speak the whole movie, I just watched it contently. Alana on the other hand was crying, screaming, and even singing along to some of the songs. I got a nice kick out of it.
“Alana?” I asked.
“Yes, Claire?” She looked at me.
“I'm glad I met you.” I said. She seemed to be a bit taken aback but then smiled.
“I'm glad you're glad.” She said awkwardly. We laughed and continued to watch the movie. Seeing how late it was, we fell asleep on each other, which wasn’t a surprise.

Notes